Distributions

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{{Languages|Distributions}}
 
{{Languages|Distributions}}
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{{TOC|left}}
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{{Distros}}
  
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;width:200px;background-color:#FF6600;text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse;font-weight:bold"
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== About distributions ==
|<font color=white>Distributions</font>
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This page provides an overview of the Linux distributions wich can be installed on the Openmoko phones. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a dualboot system with two distributions installed. For downloads see [[Download]], for installation instructions see [[Flashing the Neo FreeRunner]].
|-
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! style='background-color:#333333;color:#FFFFFF'|
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<div align=left>
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* <font color='#BBBBBB'>Openmoko (official)</font>
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** [[Om 2008.8]]
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** [[Om 2007.2]]
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** [[OpenmokoFramework|FSO]]
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* <font color='#BBBBBB'>Community</font>
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** [[SHR]]
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* <font color='#BBBBBB'>Other</font>
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** [[Qtopia]]
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** [[Debian]]
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** [[Gentoo]]
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</div>
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|-
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|}
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Openmoko distributions are designed to run on various mobile devices, with the primary aim of Openmoko Inc.'s [[Neo 1973]] and [[Neo FreeRunner]] phones. They are similar to Linux distributions; complete operating systems with user applications. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a multiboot system with two distributions installed.  
+
  
While the Openmoko distributions will run on [[Supported devices|other mobile devices]] too, some other software distributions will also run on the Openmoko Inc. phones (see below).  
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Besides, some distributions also run on [[Supported devices|other mobile devices]]. However they are not fully supported by these platforms.
  
For downloads see [[Download]], for installation instructions see [[Flashing the Neo FreeRunner]].
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=== Popularity ===
  
== About distributions ==
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According to a survey from March 2010 [[SHR]] is by far the most used distribution (59%), followed by [[Debian]] (10%), [[QtMoko]] (9%), [[Android]] (8%), [[Hackable:1]] (5%) and [[Qt Extended Improved]] (4%).
  
To be technically precise, 2007.2, 2008.8, FSO and SHR of these are not directly independent distributions, but different 'release targets'. They are built out of different branches of the [[OpenEmbedded]] metadistribution source tree, e.g. 2007.2 and 2008.8 are to each other like Ubuntu Gutsy is to Kubuntu Hardy. A [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/roadmap roadmap] showing the number of remaining active tickets (in other words, bugs) is available on the bug [http://docs.openmoko.org/trac/ trac]king system (also accessible with the DOCS link at the top of every page).
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=== Please note ===
  
One should only use feeds from packages of the same source-branch, else 'stuff will break', similar to like using .debs from Hardy on a Gutsy base system. Also note that there is NO supported upgrade path between these at the moment, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even a unbootable system. Thus please always use [[dfu-util]] to switch between the different 'distributions' for now or install them in a dual-boot setup (e.g. via sdcard or NFS).
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* Stable in the FreeRunner world does not mean the same thing as stable in the Debian world.
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* Most distributions use the same bootloader, kernel, drivers and hardware. Therefore, the same low level bugs are commonly found in all distributions.
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* Most of these distributions also have package repositories. It is a BAD idea to feed from another distribution's repository. E.g. see [[installing alien package]]s.
 +
* Upgrade path between these distributions are mostly not tested, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even an unbootable system. It is advisable to reflash the whole filesystem with [[dfu-util]] to switch between the different distributions, with the reminder that a dual-boot setup (e.g. via [[Booting from SD|MicroSD]] or [[Booting from NFS|NFS]]) can be used.
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* [[Marketing Mistakes]] and pre-installed distributions.
  
== Openmoko Inc. driven release targets ==
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== Overview ==
  
=== Om 2008.8 (ASU, April/August Software Update) ===
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=== Android ===
 +
{{Template:Works on Android}}
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Android is a software stack for mobile devices developed by the [http://www.openhandsetalliance.com/ The Open Handset Alliance.] Openmoko is fully supporting Android running on the Freerunner.
  
Om 2008.8 has been started to integrate the [http://trolltech.com/products/qtopia Qtopia] stack - on X11 - with a new set of graphically pleasing applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries. ASU is the internal name and is known as Om 2008.8 upon its release on August 8, 2008.  Qtopia is a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack and you can expect all the standard feature phone applications to work in a solid way. It uses the Qtopia phone server. Since - contrary to standard Qtopia - it does not directly use the framebuffer, non-Qt applications can safely share the screen with Qt applications.
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Android Cupcake is stable and usable on the FreeRunner as an everyday phone. Froyo is also available but there are, however, still some caveats. Check out the main [http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/ Android-on-Freerunner] project page for all details.
  
Om 2008.8 is maintained as "'''ASU-stable'''" with continuous updates.
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{{Main|Android}}
  
* [[Om2008.8|Om 2008.8]]
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=== Debian ===
* [[Downloads#Om_2008.8_images_.28ASU.29|Download > Om 2008.8 images (ASU)]]
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{{Template:Works on Debian}}
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[[Debian]] is "the universal operating system". It comes with thousands and thousands of packages (most of them designed for desktops or servers so far). So in the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the [http://wiki.debian.org/Teams/DebianFSO pkg-fso] team, this is not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the SHR software in our archive. So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)
  
=== Om 2007.2 (GTK) ===
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{{Main|Debian}}
  
[[Om 2007.2]] is for people who are familiar with the [http://www.gnome.org/mobile/ GNOME Mobile] initiative and who want to write applications that run on multiple devices running (parts of) GNOME Mobile. This includes Maemo, which runs on the Nokia Internet Tablets. The strength of the GTK+ stack is a UI and programming environment similar to what you run on your Linux desktop, if you’re into GNOME. The GTK+ has PIM applications based on the Evolution Data Server and runs the gsmd phone server. Although you can use them, the applications are still pretty rough und unfinished. Some people have problems with the stability of the phone server.
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=== GameRunner ===
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{{Template:Works on GameRunner}}
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[[GameRunner]] is an Openmoko Linux distribution. It aims convert the Freerunner open mobile phone in a Linux-based handheld game console.  
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It is simple, and contains cool and suitable open source games for Linux mobile devices.
  
* [[Om 2007.2]]
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{{Main|GameRunner}}
* Availabilty: [http://buildhost.openmoko.org/daily/ Official Buildhost] and [[MokoMakefile]] support for development builds
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* [[Downloads#Openmoko_2007.2_images_.28GTK.29|Download]]
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* Several videos of this stack by [http://uk.youtube.com/user/freeyourphone Youtube user freeyourphone] and [http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=U05kZfURPig&NR=1 video review by BVB Tech]
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This is the base-system which is installed on FreeRunner when it leaves the factory.
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2007.2 development driven by openmoko inc. has basically stopped and resources are allocated in favor of 2008.8, while the community currently does the effort to 'rescue' the 2007.2 telephony apps and pull them to the future middleware from FSO (see SHR).
 
thus patches are still welcome, especially if they help development of SHR.
 
  
=== FSO - freesmartphone.org ===
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=== Gentoo ===
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{{Template:Works on Gentoo}}
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[[Gentoo]] is all about choices. When installing Gentoo, this is made clear to you several times -- you can choose how much you want to compile yourself, how to install Gentoo, what system logger you want, etc. Gentoo is a fast, modern metadistribution with a clean and flexible design. Gentoo is built around free software and doesn't hide from its users what is beneath the hood. Portage, the package maintenance system which Gentoo uses, is written in Python, meaning you can easily view and modify the source code. Gentoo's packaging system uses source code (although support for precompiled packages is included too) and configuring Gentoo happens through regular textfiles. In other words, openness everywhere.
  
FSO has been started to overcome the deficiencies both of the 2007.2 and the 2008.8 stack, namely to come up with an extensible framework that gives developers the infrastructure they need to create solid and exciting software products based on the Openmoko platform. An infrastructure that supports competing UIs while we can collaborate on developing services, making the framework strong . Here, the focus is on stable highlevel services that you can access from whatever language or UI that supports [http://dbus.freesmartphone.org/ dbus]. People report that despite its infancy, e.g. the phone server part in FSO is already more solid than anywhere else.
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{{Main|Gentoo}}
  
It is not really intended as future release-target, but used as a 'vessel' or 'container' for the development and testing of the new, future middleware.
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=== hackable:1 ===
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{{Template:Works on Hackable:1}}
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hackable:1 is a community distribution for Hackable Devices like the Openmoko Freerunner. It is based on Debian GNU/Linux, and while
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originally integrating a GNOME Mobile platform its infrastructure assists in the generation of flashing-ready software images for embedded devices.
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{{Main|Hackable:1}}
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<br style="clear: both">
  
The applications installed are intended as test-tools for the new middleware and not as fully featured, end user oriented applications. (even if it looks that way sometimes)
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=== Mer ===
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{{Template:Works on Mer}}
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[[Mer]] is a distribution based on [[Maemo]].
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<br style="clear: both">
  
In the words of Mickey, project manager:
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=== Mokotouch ===
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{{Template:Works on Mokotouch}}
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[[MokoTouch]] wants to be a replacement for the OM Distribution. It will contain apps for system settings and other useful apps like, mail client, Photo and Maps Viewer and maybe other fun things. It's fully written in C++ using Qt 4.5 Embedded. and it runs using Framebuffer, so no X11 Required.
  
:"FSO is only a distro because "we can" (thanks to OpenEmbedded). Zhone is an independent UI application based on the FSO framework to facilitate testing. If you want to build own UIs or custom applications on the forthcoming Openmoko dbus service framework, then the FSO-image is a good starting point.
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* http://th30z.netsons.org/mokotouch/index.html
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* http://code.google.com/p/mokotouch/
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* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr821OgnvYc Video]
  
* [[FSO]]
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=== neovento ===
* [http://trac.freesmartphone.org:8000/trac-example  Development tracker]
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{{Template:Works on noevento}}
* [http://downloads.openmoko.org/framework/milestone2/ Download milestone 2]
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[[neovento]] (ex FYP) is a [[Debian|Debian on Freerunner]] based [[Distributions|distribution]] which uses [http://lxde.org/ LXDE] and [[Zhone]] on top. It is a [http://freeyourphone.de FreeYourPhone.de] community project.
* [http://freesmartphone.org freesmartphone.org]
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* [http://shr.bearstech.com/ fso-testing and fso-unstable images and feeds] (maintained by Rod Whitby, MokoMakefile author)
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== Openmoko Community driven release targets ==
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{{Main|neovento}}
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<br style="clear: both">
  
=== SHR - Stable Hybrid Release ===
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=== OpenWrt ===
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{{Template:Works on OpenWrt}}
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[[OpenWrt]] is described as a Linux distribution for embedded devices.
  
Stable Hybrid Release is a combination of the middleware from FSO, some of the 2007.2 GTK software (telephony-ui, pim), and Om2008.8 that provides all of the functionality of the 2007.2 software, but with the stability of the FSO.
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Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, [[OpenWrt]] provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and allows you to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application. For developer, [[OpenWrt]] is the framework to build an application without having to build a complete firmware around it; for users this means the ability for full customization, to use the device in ways never envisioned.
  
* [[Stable Hybrid Release]]
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[[OpenWrt]] development trunk now supports s3c24xx, CPU used in [[Freerunner]].
  
=== FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko) ===
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Mainly due to the usage of uClibc instead of glibc as libc implementation, OpenWrt can boot from NAND with enlightenment window manager within 1 minute 7 seconds using u-boot (NOR) bootloader.
  
FDOM is a rootfs/kenel image ready to flash of an OM2008.08-updates distribution with some apps already installed and some fixes posted in the lists done. [http://compartida.net/openmoko/FDOM/README.txt README.txt]. Download from  http://compartida.net/openmoko/FDOM . Use wget -c to retrieve the files because of the server seems to cut the connection time to time, and check the files MD5 hashes afterwards.
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* [http://www.openwrt.org OpenWrt website]
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* [http://dev.openwrt.org OpenWrt development site]
  
== Non-Openmoko distributions ==
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{{Main|OpenWrt}}
  
These are not Openmoko (and OE) based distributions. These are an alternatives you can run on your Openmoko phones.
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=== Qalee ===
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{{Works on Qalee}}
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[[Qalee]] is a phone environment developed in Qt4 above the fso stack. It works on the freerunner under any distribution that supports Qt4. It's not finished yet but you can test a preview version with the official Qalee distributon. This release includes no new features, but many fixes for things that didn’t work or were incomplete in 0.0.2. You can read full [http://think-free.homelinux.org/wordpress/ announcement], or take a look at some of changes:
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* Qalee is now based on shr instead of debian.
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* clock widget now shows a calendar when clicked.
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* status panel widget shows gsm network name and power and internet connection status while on wifi or gprs.
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* screen menu : you can now choose the background picture with a cover-flow effect, letting the backlight always on now works.
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* network menu : all entries work, gsm one is a little buggy though.
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* Wifi works despite the the bug in the kernel 2.6.29 opened for 4 month.
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* application menu : to launch application just click on it :) when launched the button becomes green, to close it, press the close button which becomes red and click on the application you want to close
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* power button supports suspend on short press, or menu on longer press.
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* phone application is now litephone modified to use Qalee’s buttons.
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* GorshPlayer is broken, if you have Qt4.5.2 librairies with phonon working on shr, tell me (?)//FIXME
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* keyboard is still literky.
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* Themable interface allows you to change some colours of the interface.
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WARNING: Qalee is in pre-alpha stage, a lot of thinks are not coded yet, other are broken, some may be changed. It's just a preview version of the current work!
  
=== Qtopia ===
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=== Qt Extended Improved ===
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Qt Extended has had several names. The current name is <b>Qt Extended Improved</b>. An Openmoko-based community develops Qt Extended Improved as a Free Software project. Qt Extended Improved builds on the foundation of Qt Extended/Qtopia/Qt by Qt Software/Trolltech. Qt Extended Improved provides a robust telephony stack, a webkit based browser and other smartphone features.
  
The Qtopia distribution from [http://www.trolltech.com Trolltech], it aims to provide a ready-to use image for Openmoko devices.  
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On 5th March 2009 Qt Software released Qt Extended 4.4.3. On 3rd March 2009 Qt Software announced that Qt Extended 4.4.3 would be the last release of the Qt Extended product. Prior to version 4.3, Qt Extended was known as Qtopia.
  
* [[Qtopia]]
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{{Main|Qt Extended Improved}}
* Download: [http://www.qtopia.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=6 Qtopia.net]
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=== Debian ===
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=== QtMoko ===
  
In the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the [http://wiki.debian.org/Teams/DebianFSO pkg-fso] team:
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{{Template:Works on QtMoko}}
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The most active distribution based on Qt Extended is [http://activationrecord.net/radekp/qtmoko/ QT Moko].  Special  feature are:
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* actively maintained
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* many bug-fixes applied
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* very decent speed with nodebug-kernel
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* X-Server support so you can use any X-application like [http://www.tangogps.org/gps/articles/7-Installation.html#extended TangoGPS].
  
:It’s not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the Stable Hybrid Release software in our archive.
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{{Main|QT Moko}}
  
:So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)
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=== SHR ===
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{{Template:Works on SHR}}
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SHR is a community driven distribution. It contains some basic EFL based applications which make use of the FSO. There currently is an [[EFL_Documentation|EFL]] (with elementary) dialer, messages and contacts application programmed in C, as well as a nice Settings-GUI in Python. As of April 12th, 2009, there is no stable release of this distribution yet, as the SHR team doesn't feel it to be good enough. You can find images though on the [http://shr.bearstech.com/shr-testing SHR buildhost].
  
* [[Debian]]
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{{Main|SHR}}
  
=== Gentoo ===
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=== Slackware ===
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{{Template:Works on Slackware}}
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As of release 12.2, Slackware is now officially supported on the Neo Freerunner
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[http://armedslack.org/]
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--[[User:Djdas|djdas]] 15:54, 13 June 2009 (UTC)There aren't any confirmations of ArmedSlack running on Freerunner either on the website or the official ML, do you have any link pointing on that?
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--[[User:Ajh]] 22:11, 22 April 2010 (UTC) Wrote preliminary installation instructions on my user page.
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<br style="clear: both">
  
* [[Gentoo]]
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=== Abandoned ===
== Features by distribution/release target ==
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=== Connectivity ===
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==== FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko) ====
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{{Template:Works on FDOM}}
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[[FDOM]] was a distribution based on [[Om 2008]], updated with many ready-to-use applications and with fixes posted in the mailing lists.
  
{| border=1 width=100% |
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{{Main|FDOM}}
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qtopia || Debian
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<br style="clear: both">
|-
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| Telephony || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| SMS || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| [[GPRS]] || Not through UI || Not through UI || Not through UI || N/A || {{No}} (3) || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| WiFi || {{Yes}} || Not through UI || {{Yes}} (*) || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| VoIP || ?? || ?? || ?? || ?? || ?? || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| Bluetooth || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| GPS || {{Yes}} (1) || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1) || N/A || {{No}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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|}
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=== User Interaction ===
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==== Om series ====
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* '''[[Om 2009]]''' was intended to be the new distro; it is not a simple follow-on from [[Om 2008]]. It is based on the [http://freesmartphone.org freesmartphone.org] milestone 5.5 framework. Development of Om 2009 was ended and developers moved on to work on other distros instead.
  
{| border=1 width=100% |
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{{Main|Om2009}}
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qtopia || Debian
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|-
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| Stylus friendly || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| Finger friendly || Partially || Partially || Partially || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{No}}
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|-
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| Accelerometer || {{No}}|| {{No}} || {{Yes}} [[Gestures|(1)]]  || N/A || {{No}} || {{No}}
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|-
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|}
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=== Applications ===
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* '''[[Om 2008]]''' was released on August 8, 2008, to replace 2007.2. Prior to that, its codename was ASU (April/August Software Update). This is still the name of the branch in the version control system. This distribution integrates the [http://trolltech.com/products/qtopia Qtopia] phone stack with a set of new Openmoko applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries ([[EFL_Documentation|EFL]]). Qtopia being a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack, the standard phone applications (dialer, contacts, calculator, calendar) work better than in 2007.2. The Qtopia used in 2008.8 was ported to run on X11, contrary to standard Qtopia which uses the framebuffer. This allows non-Qt applications to safely share the screen with Qt applications.
  
{| border=1 width=100% |
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{{Main|Om 2008}}
| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qtopia || Debian
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|-
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| Terminal || Basic (2) || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1) || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| PIM || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| Phonebook || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| Dialer || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || N/A || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| Web Browser || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{No}} || {{Yes}} (midori)
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|-
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| Mail Client || ? || ? || {{Yes}} || ? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| XMPP Client || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} [[Instant Messaging|(1)]] || ? || {{No}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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| Media Player || {{Yes}} || ? || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} (1)
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|-
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|}
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=== Toolkits / Runtimes ===
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* '''[[Om 2007.2]]''' was the first distribution created by Openmoko. The interface was totally finger-oriented,  optimized for 285ppi, and very orange. It used the GTK+ stack, which is part of the [http://www.gnome.org/mobile/ GNOME Mobile] platform. This distribution is now considered obsolete and not being worked on by Openmoko Inc or by OpenedHand.  
{| border=1 width=100% |
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| width=14%| || width=14%|2007.2 || width=14%|FSO || width=14%|Om2008.8 || width=14%|SHR || width=14%|Qtopia || Debian
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|-
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| GTK+ || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{No}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| QT/Qtopia || No || {{Yes}}? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| Middleware || gsmd/neod || freesmartphone.org || qtopia-x11 || freesmartphone.org || qtopia || freesmartphone.org
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|-
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| [[Java]] || Jalimo || Jalimo || Jalimo || ? || ? || {{Yes}} (CacaoVM, JamVM)
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|-
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| [[Python]] || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}} || ? || {{Yes}} || {{Yes}}
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|-
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| [[Mono]] || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || {{Yes}} (1) || ? || ? || {{Yes}} (1)
+
|}
+
  
 +
{{Main|Om 2007.2}}
  
Footnotes:
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=== Others / unreleased ===
 +
* The [http://www.neopwn.com/software.php NeoPwn] network auditng system's core is a modified Linux 2.6.24 kernel, with cross-compiled module driver support for the numerous compatible addon devices running on a FULL Debian (ARMEL) operating system. The filesystem has been optimized for performance and size and includes the NeoPwn menu system and several GUI dialogs for hardware control and attack automation. ''Status: Unknown, the GPL requires source code to be distributed only to customers''.
 +
* [http://runningbear.org/trac RunningBear] is an innovative, yet free and open-source Operating System for hackable devices driven by Bearstech. Lightweight, Portable, Secure, Friendly and Useful. ''Status: In development''.
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* [http://pokylinux.org/ Poky] and Sato, by OpenedHand/Intel. An open source platform build tool derived from OE. It is a complete software development environment for the creation of Linux devices. It enables you to design, develop, build, debug, and test a complete, modern, software stack using Linux, the X Window System and GNOME Mobile based application frameworks for both ARM and x86 based platforms. ''Status: The "Nightly Build" Image works fine on Neo Freerunner, but phone functionality doesn't.''
 +
* [http://pyneo.org/ PyNeo] pyneo is a stack for mobile devices excessivly using dbus, glib and evas. Pyneo is NO distribution but a middleware or framework like FSO which itself developed from a very early version of pyneo. Current pyneo images are entirely based on debian instead of oe. ''Status: still active and in development! ask around on #pyneo.org ''
 +
* [http://www.quantum-step.com/ mySTEP] by Openmoko distributor Golden Delicious Computers is based on GNUstep and brings a Objective-C API to the Neo. Core GUI frameworks are "Foundation" & "AppKit". It has been shown on FOSDEM 2008, LinuxTag 2008 and SYSTEMS 2008 to run on the Neo 1973. If someone reengineers UIKit, (open) source code compatibility to iPhone apps appears achievable. ''Status: slow progress behind the scenes''
 +
* [http://www.archmobile.org/ Archlinux] is a distribution that follows the KISS principle.
 +
* [http://code.google.com/p/inferno-openmoko/ Inferno] is port of distributed operating system [http://code.google.com/p/inferno-os/ Inferno].
  
(1) works, but need additional software to be installed
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== Features by distribution/release target ==
 +
{{Main|Comparison of operating systems}}
 +
Generally, distributions can differ on one or more of the following components:
 +
* The bootsplash screen image. This is purely decorative.
 +
* The bootloader. Theoretically, any version of ''uboot'' could be used with any distribution. In the future ''Qi'' will replace ''uboot''.
 +
* The kernel. GNU/Linux kernels versions 2.6.24, 2.6.26 or 2.6.28 can be found. Some have modules compiled in, others have modules compiled separately. If compiled separately, modules can be distributed in the same package file as the kernel or separately.
 +
* Middleware: daemons to handle GSM calls or GPS, sound system, personal information storage and so on. Qt and Android have their own subsystems, FreeSmartphone.Org (FSO) is working towards a standard-based Free Software one.
 +
* Display driver. The original ''Qt Extended'' uses the framebuffer, most other distributions today use ''X11''.
 +
* Libraries and application framework (widget toolkit and  and graphical environment) : EFL, Qt, Gtk+ or Java ?
 +
* Basic telephony applications: voice calls, SMS, alarm clock...
 +
* Smartphone applications: GPS, media player, simple games, web browser...
 +
* Open source applications: more games, scientific, you name it...
  
(2) unusable due to lack of certain keyboard characters. [[Switching_Keyboards#Matchbox_keyboard|Various fixes available.]]
+
== Quick download page ==
 +
* [[Download]]
  
(3) there is a UI but it crashes the device when used.
+
== See also ==
  
(*) unstable
+
* Mickey Lauer's post "[http://www.vanille-media.de/site/index.php/2008/06/28/gtk-asu-fso-tmtla/ GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!]" describes the differences between distributions 2007.2, ASU and FSO.
  
== External links ==
+
* Latest news and tips are in [[Community Updates]]
  
Original distribution descriptions are from Mickey Lauer's [http://www.vanille-media.de/site/index.php/2008/06/28/gtk-asu-fso-tmtla/ GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!].
+
* [[Kustomizer]] is a script to change your Om 2009 or Om 2008.12 to a usable phone
  
 
[[Category:Distributions| ]]
 
[[Category:Distributions| ]]
[[Category:Documentation]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:42, 9 January 2012

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[edit] About distributions

This page provides an overview of the Linux distributions wich can be installed on the Openmoko phones. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a dualboot system with two distributions installed. For downloads see Download, for installation instructions see Flashing the Neo FreeRunner.

Besides, some distributions also run on other mobile devices. However they are not fully supported by these platforms.

[edit] Popularity

According to a survey from March 2010 SHR is by far the most used distribution (59%), followed by Debian (10%), QtMoko (9%), Android (8%), Hackable:1 (5%) and Qt Extended Improved (4%).

[edit] Please note

  • Stable in the FreeRunner world does not mean the same thing as stable in the Debian world.
  • Most distributions use the same bootloader, kernel, drivers and hardware. Therefore, the same low level bugs are commonly found in all distributions.
  • Most of these distributions also have package repositories. It is a BAD idea to feed from another distribution's repository. E.g. see installing alien packages.
  • Upgrade path between these distributions are mostly not tested, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even an unbootable system. It is advisable to reflash the whole filesystem with dfu-util to switch between the different distributions, with the reminder that a dual-boot setup (e.g. via MicroSD or NFS) can be used.
  • Marketing Mistakes and pre-installed distributions.

[edit] Overview

[edit] Android

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



Android is a software stack for mobile devices developed by the The Open Handset Alliance. Openmoko is fully supporting Android running on the Freerunner.

Android Cupcake is stable and usable on the FreeRunner as an everyday phone. Froyo is also available but there are, however, still some caveats. Check out the main Android-on-Freerunner project page for all details.

Main article: Android


[edit] Debian

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 yes
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream yes
Other yes



Debian is "the universal operating system". It comes with thousands and thousands of packages (most of them designed for desktops or servers so far). So in the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the pkg-fso team, this is not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the SHR software in our archive. So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)

Main article: Debian


[edit] GameRunner

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?


GameRunner is an Openmoko Linux distribution. It aims convert the Freerunner open mobile phone in a Linux-based handheld game console. It is simple, and contains cool and suitable open source games for Linux mobile devices.

Main article: GameRunner



[edit] Gentoo

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other yes



Gentoo is all about choices. When installing Gentoo, this is made clear to you several times -- you can choose how much you want to compile yourself, how to install Gentoo, what system logger you want, etc. Gentoo is a fast, modern metadistribution with a clean and flexible design. Gentoo is built around free software and doesn't hide from its users what is beneath the hood. Portage, the package maintenance system which Gentoo uses, is written in Python, meaning you can easily view and modify the source code. Gentoo's packaging system uses source code (although support for precompiled packages is included too) and configuring Gentoo happens through regular textfiles. In other words, openness everywhere.

Main article: Gentoo


[edit] hackable:1

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other yes



hackable:1 is a community distribution for Hackable Devices like the Openmoko Freerunner. It is based on Debian GNU/Linux, and while originally integrating a GNOME Mobile platform its infrastructure assists in the generation of flashing-ready software images for embedded devices.

Main article: Hackable:1



[edit] Mer

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



Mer is a distribution based on Maemo.

[edit] Mokotouch

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



MokoTouch wants to be a replacement for the OM Distribution. It will contain apps for system settings and other useful apps like, mail client, Photo and Maps Viewer and maybe other fun things. It's fully written in C++ using Qt 4.5 Embedded. and it runs using Framebuffer, so no X11 Required.

[edit] neovento

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



neovento (ex FYP) is a Debian on Freerunner based distribution which uses LXDE and Zhone on top. It is a FreeYourPhone.de community project.

Main article: neovento



[edit] OpenWrt

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



OpenWrt is described as a Linux distribution for embedded devices.

Instead of trying to create a single, static firmware, OpenWrt provides a fully writable filesystem with package management. This frees you from the application selection and configuration provided by the vendor and allows you to customize the device through the use of packages to suit any application. For developer, OpenWrt is the framework to build an application without having to build a complete firmware around it; for users this means the ability for full customization, to use the device in ways never envisioned.

OpenWrt development trunk now supports s3c24xx, CPU used in Freerunner.

Mainly due to the usage of uClibc instead of glibc as libc implementation, OpenWrt can boot from NAND with enlightenment window manager within 1 minute 7 seconds using u-boot (NOR) bootloader.

Main article: OpenWrt


[edit] Qalee

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 yes
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



Qalee is a phone environment developed in Qt4 above the fso stack. It works on the freerunner under any distribution that supports Qt4. It's not finished yet but you can test a preview version with the official Qalee distributon. This release includes no new features, but many fixes for things that didn’t work or were incomplete in 0.0.2. You can read full announcement, or take a look at some of changes:

  • Qalee is now based on shr instead of debian.
  • clock widget now shows a calendar when clicked.
  • status panel widget shows gsm network name and power and internet connection status while on wifi or gprs.
  • screen menu : you can now choose the background picture with a cover-flow effect, letting the backlight always on now works.
  • network menu : all entries work, gsm one is a little buggy though.
  • Wifi works despite the the bug in the kernel 2.6.29 opened for 4 month.
  • application menu : to launch application just click on it :) when launched the button becomes green, to close it, press the close button which becomes red and click on the application you want to close
  • power button supports suspend on short press, or menu on longer press.
  • phone application is now litephone modified to use Qalee’s buttons.
  • GorshPlayer is broken, if you have Qt4.5.2 librairies with phonon working on shr, tell me (?)//FIXME
  • keyboard is still literky.
  • Themable interface allows you to change some colours of the interface.

WARNING: Qalee is in pre-alpha stage, a lot of thinks are not coded yet, other are broken, some may be changed. It's just a preview version of the current work!

[edit] Qt Extended Improved

Qt Extended has had several names. The current name is Qt Extended Improved. An Openmoko-based community develops Qt Extended Improved as a Free Software project. Qt Extended Improved builds on the foundation of Qt Extended/Qtopia/Qt by Qt Software/Trolltech. Qt Extended Improved provides a robust telephony stack, a webkit based browser and other smartphone features.

On 5th March 2009 Qt Software released Qt Extended 4.4.3. On 3rd March 2009 Qt Software announced that Qt Extended 4.4.3 would be the last release of the Qt Extended product. Prior to version 4.3, Qt Extended was known as Qtopia.

Main article: Qt Extended Improved


[edit] QtMoko

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 yes
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



The most active distribution based on Qt Extended is QT Moko. Special feature are:

  • actively maintained
  • many bug-fixes applied
  • very decent speed with nodebug-kernel
  • X-Server support so you can use any X-application like TangoGPS.
Main article: QT Moko


[edit] SHR

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 yes
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream yes
Other yes



SHR is a community driven distribution. It contains some basic EFL based applications which make use of the FSO. There currently is an EFL (with elementary) dialer, messages and contacts application programmed in C, as well as a nice Settings-GUI in Python. As of April 12th, 2009, there is no stable release of this distribution yet, as the SHR team doesn't feel it to be good enough. You can find images though on the SHR buildhost.

Main article: SHR


[edit] Slackware

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other yes



As of release 12.2, Slackware is now officially supported on the Neo Freerunner [1] --djdas 15:54, 13 June 2009 (UTC)There aren't any confirmations of ArmedSlack running on Freerunner either on the website or the official ML, do you have any link pointing on that? --User:Ajh 22:11, 22 April 2010 (UTC) Wrote preliminary installation instructions on my user page.

[edit] Abandoned

[edit] FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko)

Hardware Works
Neo 1973 ?
FreeRunner yes
GTA04 ?
HTC-Dream ?
Other ?



FDOM was a distribution based on Om 2008, updated with many ready-to-use applications and with fixes posted in the mailing lists.

Main article: FDOM



[edit] Om series

  • Om 2009 was intended to be the new distro; it is not a simple follow-on from Om 2008. It is based on the freesmartphone.org milestone 5.5 framework. Development of Om 2009 was ended and developers moved on to work on other distros instead.
Main article: Om2009


  • Om 2008 was released on August 8, 2008, to replace 2007.2. Prior to that, its codename was ASU (April/August Software Update). This is still the name of the branch in the version control system. This distribution integrates the Qtopia phone stack with a set of new Openmoko applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries (EFL). Qtopia being a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack, the standard phone applications (dialer, contacts, calculator, calendar) work better than in 2007.2. The Qtopia used in 2008.8 was ported to run on X11, contrary to standard Qtopia which uses the framebuffer. This allows non-Qt applications to safely share the screen with Qt applications.
Main article: Om 2008


  • Om 2007.2 was the first distribution created by Openmoko. The interface was totally finger-oriented, optimized for 285ppi, and very orange. It used the GTK+ stack, which is part of the GNOME Mobile platform. This distribution is now considered obsolete and not being worked on by Openmoko Inc or by OpenedHand.
Main article: Om 2007.2


[edit] Others / unreleased

  • The NeoPwn network auditng system's core is a modified Linux 2.6.24 kernel, with cross-compiled module driver support for the numerous compatible addon devices running on a FULL Debian (ARMEL) operating system. The filesystem has been optimized for performance and size and includes the NeoPwn menu system and several GUI dialogs for hardware control and attack automation. Status: Unknown, the GPL requires source code to be distributed only to customers.
  • RunningBear is an innovative, yet free and open-source Operating System for hackable devices driven by Bearstech. Lightweight, Portable, Secure, Friendly and Useful. Status: In development.
  • Poky and Sato, by OpenedHand/Intel. An open source platform build tool derived from OE. It is a complete software development environment for the creation of Linux devices. It enables you to design, develop, build, debug, and test a complete, modern, software stack using Linux, the X Window System and GNOME Mobile based application frameworks for both ARM and x86 based platforms. Status: The "Nightly Build" Image works fine on Neo Freerunner, but phone functionality doesn't.
  • PyNeo pyneo is a stack for mobile devices excessivly using dbus, glib and evas. Pyneo is NO distribution but a middleware or framework like FSO which itself developed from a very early version of pyneo. Current pyneo images are entirely based on debian instead of oe. Status: still active and in development! ask around on #pyneo.org
  • mySTEP by Openmoko distributor Golden Delicious Computers is based on GNUstep and brings a Objective-C API to the Neo. Core GUI frameworks are "Foundation" & "AppKit". It has been shown on FOSDEM 2008, LinuxTag 2008 and SYSTEMS 2008 to run on the Neo 1973. If someone reengineers UIKit, (open) source code compatibility to iPhone apps appears achievable. Status: slow progress behind the scenes
  • Archlinux is a distribution that follows the KISS principle.
  • Inferno is port of distributed operating system Inferno.

[edit] Features by distribution/release target

Main article: Comparison of operating systems


Generally, distributions can differ on one or more of the following components:

  • The bootsplash screen image. This is purely decorative.
  • The bootloader. Theoretically, any version of uboot could be used with any distribution. In the future Qi will replace uboot.
  • The kernel. GNU/Linux kernels versions 2.6.24, 2.6.26 or 2.6.28 can be found. Some have modules compiled in, others have modules compiled separately. If compiled separately, modules can be distributed in the same package file as the kernel or separately.
  • Middleware: daemons to handle GSM calls or GPS, sound system, personal information storage and so on. Qt and Android have their own subsystems, FreeSmartphone.Org (FSO) is working towards a standard-based Free Software one.
  • Display driver. The original Qt Extended uses the framebuffer, most other distributions today use X11.
  • Libraries and application framework (widget toolkit and and graphical environment) : EFL, Qt, Gtk+ or Java ?
  • Basic telephony applications: voice calls, SMS, alarm clock...
  • Smartphone applications: GPS, media player, simple games, web browser...
  • Open source applications: more games, scientific, you name it...

[edit] Quick download page

[edit] See also

  • Mickey Lauer's post "GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!" describes the differences between distributions 2007.2, ASU and FSO.
  • Kustomizer is a script to change your Om 2009 or Om 2008.12 to a usable phone
Personal tools


Distributions

Openmoko distributions are designed to run on various mobile devices, with the primary aim of Openmoko Inc.'s Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner phones. They are similar to Linux distributions; complete operating systems with user applications. You can install any of them on your phone or even have a multiboot system with two distributions installed.

While the Openmoko distributions will run on other mobile devices too, some other software distributions will also run on the Openmoko Inc. phones (see below).

For downloads see Download, for installation instructions see Flashing the Neo FreeRunner.

About distributions

To be technically precise, 2007.2, 2008.8, FSO and SHR of these are not directly independent distributions, but different 'release targets'. They are built out of different branches of the OpenEmbedded metadistribution source tree, e.g. 2007.2 and 2008.8 are to each other like Ubuntu Gutsy is to Kubuntu Hardy. A roadmap showing the number of remaining active tickets (in other words, bugs) is available on the bug tracking system (also accessible with the DOCS link at the top of every page).

One should only use feeds from packages of the same source-branch, else 'stuff will break', similar to like using .debs from Hardy on a Gutsy base system. Also note that there is NO supported upgrade path between these at the moment, thus updating by changing the feeds will most likely end in broken packages or even a unbootable system. Thus please always use dfu-util to switch between the different 'distributions' for now or install them in a dual-boot setup (e.g. via sdcard or NFS).

Openmoko Inc. driven release targets

Om 2008.8 (ASU, April/August Software Update)

Om 2008.8 has been started to integrate the Qtopia stack - on X11 - with a new set of graphically pleasing applications based on the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries. ASU is the internal name and is known as Om 2008.8 upon its release on August 8, 2008. Qtopia is a more mature product than the GNOME Mobile stack and you can expect all the standard feature phone applications to work in a solid way. It uses the Qtopia phone server. Since - contrary to standard Qtopia - it does not directly use the framebuffer, non-Qt applications can safely share the screen with Qt applications.

Om 2008.8 is maintained as "ASU-stable" with continuous updates.

Om 2007.2 (GTK)

Om 2007.2 is for people who are familiar with the GNOME Mobile initiative and who want to write applications that run on multiple devices running (parts of) GNOME Mobile. This includes Maemo, which runs on the Nokia Internet Tablets. The strength of the GTK+ stack is a UI and programming environment similar to what you run on your Linux desktop, if you’re into GNOME. The GTK+ has PIM applications based on the Evolution Data Server and runs the gsmd phone server. Although you can use them, the applications are still pretty rough und unfinished. Some people have problems with the stability of the phone server.

This is the base-system which is installed on FreeRunner when it leaves the factory.

2007.2 development driven by openmoko inc. has basically stopped and resources are allocated in favor of 2008.8, while the community currently does the effort to 'rescue' the 2007.2 telephony apps and pull them to the future middleware from FSO (see SHR). thus patches are still welcome, especially if they help development of SHR.

FSO - freesmartphone.org

FSO has been started to overcome the deficiencies both of the 2007.2 and the 2008.8 stack, namely to come up with an extensible framework that gives developers the infrastructure they need to create solid and exciting software products based on the Openmoko platform. An infrastructure that supports competing UIs while we can collaborate on developing services, making the framework strong . Here, the focus is on stable highlevel services that you can access from whatever language or UI that supports dbus. People report that despite its infancy, e.g. the phone server part in FSO is already more solid than anywhere else.

It is not really intended as future release-target, but used as a 'vessel' or 'container' for the development and testing of the new, future middleware.

The applications installed are intended as test-tools for the new middleware and not as fully featured, end user oriented applications. (even if it looks that way sometimes)

In the words of Mickey, project manager:

"FSO is only a distro because "we can" (thanks to OpenEmbedded). Zhone is an independent UI application based on the FSO framework to facilitate testing. If you want to build own UIs or custom applications on the forthcoming Openmoko dbus service framework, then the FSO-image is a good starting point.

Openmoko Community driven release targets

SHR - Stable Hybrid Release

Stable Hybrid Release is a combination of the middleware from FSO, some of the 2007.2 GTK software (telephony-ui, pim), and Om2008.8 that provides all of the functionality of the 2007.2 software, but with the stability of the FSO.

FDOM (FAT and Dirty Openmoko)

FDOM is a rootfs/kenel image ready to flash of an OM2008.08-updates distribution with some apps already installed and some fixes posted in the lists done. README.txt. Download from http://compartida.net/openmoko/FDOM . Use wget -c to retrieve the files because of the server seems to cut the connection time to time, and check the files MD5 hashes afterwards.

Non-Openmoko distributions

These are not Openmoko (and OE) based distributions. These are an alternatives you can run on your Openmoko phones.

Qtopia

The Qtopia distribution from Trolltech, it aims to provide a ready-to use image for Openmoko devices.

Debian

In the words of Joachim "nomeata" Breitner from the pkg-fso team:

It’s not really a distribution in the Openmoko sense of the word, but rather a different underlying system for Openmoko distributions. At the moment, we ship the software from the FSO stack, but hopefully we’ll also have, for example, the Stable Hybrid Release software in our archive.
So for now, Debian is a different way of installing FSO, which takes more space and provides more programs :-)

Gentoo

Features by distribution/release target

Connectivity

2007.2 FSO Om2008.8 SHR Qtopia Debian
Telephony yes yes yes N/A yes yes (1)
SMS yes yes yes N/A yes yes (1)
GPRS Not through UI Not through UI Not through UI N/A no (3) yes (1)
WiFi yes Not through UI yes (*) N/A yes yes
VoIP  ??  ??  ??  ??  ?? yes
Bluetooth yes no yes N/A yes yes
GPS yes (1) yes yes (1) N/A no yes (1)

User Interaction

2007.2 FSO Om2008.8 SHR Qtopia Debian
Stylus friendly yes yes yes N/A yes yes
Finger friendly Partially Partially Partially N/A yes no
Accelerometer no no yes (1) N/A no no

Applications

2007.2 FSO Om2008.8 SHR Qtopia Debian
Terminal Basic (2) yes yes (1) N/A yes yes
PIM yes no yes N/A yes yes (1)
Phonebook yes yes yes N/A yes yes (1)
Dialer yes yes yes N/A yes yes (1)
Web Browser yes (1)  ? yes (1)  ? no yes (midori)
Mail Client  ?  ? yes  ? yes yes (1)
XMPP Client yes (1)  ? yes (1)  ? no yes (1)
Media Player yes  ? yes (1)  ? yes yes (1)

Toolkits / Runtimes

2007.2 FSO Om2008.8 SHR Qtopia Debian
GTK+ yes yes yes yes no yes
QT/Qtopia No yes ? yes yes ? yes yes
Middleware gsmd/neod freesmartphone.org qtopia-x11 freesmartphone.org qtopia freesmartphone.org
Java Jalimo Jalimo Jalimo  ?  ? yes (CacaoVM, JamVM)
Python yes yes yes  ? yes yes
Mono yes (1)  ? yes (1)  ?  ? yes (1)


Footnotes:

(1) works, but need additional software to be installed

(2) unusable due to lack of certain keyboard characters. Various fixes available.

(3) there is a UI but it crashes the device when used.

(*) unstable

External links

Original distribution descriptions are from Mickey Lauer's GTK, ASU, FSO, TMTLA!.